Vapor-contbolling system



Mar. 6, 1923. Y

N. B. JOHNSON VAPOR CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed May 24, 1919 5 sheets-sheet 1 IHJJ/irzruwi I N. B. JOHNSON VAPOI i CONTROLLING SYSTEM Mar. 6, 1923.

Filed May 24, 1919 s sheets sh'eet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES NELSON B. JOHNSON, OF WIN'I'HROP, MASSACHUSETTS.

VAPOR-CONTROLLING- SYSTEM.

Application filed May 24,

Z '0 (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, NELSON B. J OHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vvinthrop, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Vapor-Controlling System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for regulating steam boiler furnaces used for heating buildings and for similar purposes.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a damper regulator that will not under any conditions allow the water, used for sealing the relatively movable parts of the same, to be blown out and. render the regulator inoperative or cause danger; to provide means on such a device "for checking the steam supply so as to cause the water seal to be subject only to such pressure as may be desired for operating the regulator; to provide an improved checking device. for controlling the inlet or" steam into the regulator, which operates according to the level of the water in the regulator and works entirely independently of the floating receptacle that operates the damper levers and so arranged that nothing can prevent the operation of the checking device; to provide a float for this purpose located entirely within the working. receptacle and controlled solely according to the water level therein; to provide an arrangement whereby careless workmen cannot in any way prevent the checking device from working by connecting up the parts in a careless manner; to provide a combination of parts of such a nature that if for any reason the floating receptacle is kept by mechanical means from rising the samewill not prevent the check from seating so as to prevent the water seal being blown out; to provide a device of this character in which the outer receptacle has a top that is water-tight except for a small. slot so as to prevent much water being blown out even in case the check should fail ,to work, thus simply causing the water in that case to be churned up in this top but most of it to be retained therein; to provide a relationship of parts such that even in that case there is no greatpressure to act on the movable receptacle to prevent its having substantially its maximum lifting power; to pro- 1919. Serial No. 299,473.

vlde an arrangement for this purpose which will not allow any steam to escape through the regulator under any conditions, because the float operating the check would then descend and close the steam passages thus constituting an improvement over those regulators that depend upon floats or receptacles moving before the check can seat and close off to provide a construction in which the flow of steam to the regulator can be checked without the inside or floating receptacle necessarily moving from its lowest position, and generally to improve the construction and operation of steam-controlled regulators of the water seal float type for a boiler or any other source of steam supply.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings in which i Fig. 1 is an elevation of a steam boiler furnace with a preferred embodiment of this controlling device connected therewith;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the controller on enlarged scale showing the parts in a position to allow the check valve to remain wide open;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the parts in working condition under excessive pressure holding the dampers closed and allowing leakage of steam into the controller;

Fig. 4'. is an enlarged view of the check valve in the position shown in Fig. 2 that is the position of the check when controller is working normally;

Fig, 5 is a similar enlarged view showing the check valve in a position to allow leakage of steam to make up for condensation, should there be excessive pressure in the boiler;

Fig. 6 is a'similar view of the upper part of the steam inlet device;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view slightly modi fied, of the pipe through which the steam enters, showing how it escapes into the inner receptacle; and

Fig/ 8 is an elevation of a modification partly broken away to show interior construction.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown in the first seven figures in a form in which it involves a stationary outer receptacle 17 carried by a supporting standard 24' Steam is supplied to it from the boiler through a pipe 9 the end of which is carried by the top of the pipe standard 24. The device automatically operates a damper 10 in the pipe and a draft 11 of the steam boiler furnace. In the present case these are shown as connected by chains with a lever 12 having an adjustable weight 13 thereon for controlling the pressure at which the device will operate. These parts are connected by an operating lever 15 with the controller proper. There is also a regulatin weight l7 for counter-"balancingthe weight of an inside receptacle 18 so that a very light pressure canbe'carried if desired.

In this form "the controller consists of three inain'parts, the stationary outer receptacle 17, the inner receptacle 18 which is connected withthe lever 15 by means of a pin 1.6 and directlyoperates the same, and afloat 19 shown as located within the inner receptacle and operating a check valve con-- sisting of two parts 20 and 21. Although it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to a construction in which. these three main elements are located in the same positions relative to each other as above stated, yet that 18 a practical construction.

The outer receptacle which is stationary and constitutes the supporting means for the whole controller and also the casing therefor is provided with a cast iron top or coverQQ. This top is shown as provided with stud. holes" 14: by which it can be Screwed to atop plate, for hanging to the ceiling it d.esiif'ed,"but is not shown herein. This cast iron cover is also provided with a slot '25 in its side for the lever 15. This slot is small and narrow and constitutes the only opening through the cover except a water filling valve 26 at one side. which can be connected with a pipe and city water'it' desired, or can be provided with a funnel at the top for filling purposes. This top casting 22 is tapped for four iron rods 27 which screw into the same and at their lower ends support a spider casting .28 which has an upwardly extending'fiange for receivthe bottom of the: cylindrical receptacle 17. .This casting 28 also supports the bottom of the brass bottom casting 29 which fits in the inside of the bottom edge of the receptacle '17 and preferably is'rivete'd and soldered to it. The top'of the receptacle 1? is also niadetight in the same way to a brass ring 30 and annular flat packing 33 between ring 39 and "the bottom of the top casting 22 so that receptacle 1'? and 'to'p'casting are water-tight."

At the bottom of the spider casting :28 is a brass lock-nut 31 screwed on the pipe 99 carried by the supporting standard 24 which receives the steain supply pipe 9. The steam passes up into an'upper ineniber 91 which is screwed into the top of the conical bottom 29? The upper and'ljower pieces 91 and 99 are connectedtogether by a coupling as in dicated. In Fig. 7 the standard 24 directly supports the casting 28.

The top casting 22 is provided with a plurality oit' fixed brackets 32 which support brass wheels 32, four being shown These are for the purpose of guiding with a minimum of friction the inner receptacle 18 which is closed at the top. This inner re- .ceptacle is provided with a cast brass strengthening ring 34 near the bottom and with a cast brass top 35 driven into the same and riveted and soldered so as to form an air-tight connection." This top 35 supports the pin16 by which the lever 15 is connected with it, and it will be noted that this lever has a slotted connection ro e-ma of operation at diiierent heights. The lever is pivoted in the opening 25 by being pinned through it. i

The upper end of the pipe 91 which projects up throughthe bottom 29 constitutes a stationary solid guide for the float 19. i it is provided with a casing 3? inside screwed. into the top of the upper section of the supply pipe 91, and entendingup above the top of the same. It is provided with four ports 38 just above the top of the supply pipe and just above these it carries the stationary lever hanger This casing 37 extends down into the supply pipe some distance and is open at the bottom. i No matter whether the steam is checked to prevent its passing through the casing 37 or not. it always surrounds the same so as to prevent excessivecondensation where the supply pipe passes through the water seal. It is to be noted that there is only a short space where this occurs because of the conical shape of the bottom 29. t

The float 19 is a hermetically sealed hollow circularbody having a central passage therethrough by whicli'it' guided .on the upper end of the pipe 91 and it is provided with brackets 4:0 to which are pivoted links ll connected itli levers 1:2 tulcriuned on the lever hanger 39 previously mentioned. These two levers always operate together and alike; andtheir inner ends are pivotally connected with a ineinber 43 into the bottom of which is screwed the top ofa check valve rod let which is free toniove up and down according to the motion of the float. This rod is j rrovided fixed to its bottom by screwthread connection, with a complete ball. check valve 21' and above this is another ball check 20 which is provided witha "passage thei'ethroughto permit it to move up and down with relation to the check valverod 44:. It fits the valve seat formed atthe bottom of the casing 37 so that whenthe check valve rod 44; is drawn up to its highest position, on account of the fact that the water in the inner receptacle 18" is" at its lower level, the entrance of steam through the casing 37 and ports 38 into the interior of the inner receptacle could be shutoff, if float 19 remained in its lowest position.

The float 19 is hermetically sealed as stated, but it has a passage through it tor a small pipe 45 having a cock at the bottom for venting out when filling controller.

Operation.

It will be understood, of course, that the operation, with the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 2, 4 steam is free to pass up into the casing 37 from the boiler out into the inner receptacle .18 so that the greater the pressure of? steam in the boiler the higher will the inner receptacle rise, to close the dampers more and keep the fire under check.

The water outside rises to a height determined by the amount of pressure the regulator is weighted to maintain. If the maxi mum pressure is carried, water will be forced up around the flexible packing 83 into the top casting 22 and the water level in the iuside receptacle 18 is then just high enough to seal its bottom when it is in its uppermost position. When the pressure which the reg-- ulator has been weighted to maintain has been attained in the boiler and heating; system the supply pipe 9 has delivered steam into the inside receptacle and the pressure is the same in the regulator as it is in the boiler. The inner receptacle then willrise and if the pressure increases it will rise to its highest possible position as shown in Fig. 3 and work the damper lever 15 and close the dampers of the boiler.

When the controller is working naturally the water is not forced higher than the top of outer receptacle 17. The controller will maintain constant uniform pressure of steam with little fluctuation of pressure between fully opening and fully closing dampers on the boiler or control valves for gas or oil burning boilers or steam balance val vcs when taking steam from high pressure sources. If water is forced into the top casting 22 unnatural conditions are existing and an excessive pressure is generated in the source of steam supply to the controller. In such a case the controller vould be in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the checking device in a position to allow for leakage of steam from the source of supply into the inner receptacle l8 and the dampers or control valves would be closed tight and natural conditions would soon be restored. In which case water would return from the top casting 22 to the bottom of the outer receptacle 17. This would raise the float 19 which in turn would work the levers 42 and the lower check rod 44 so that the checking device would again be in the position shown in l. Free passage of steam from the source of supply into the inner receptacle 1.8 would again take place and free overflow of any surplus water that may have collected durin the period of excessive pressure would be discharged through ports 38 and through the supply pipe 9 to its proper place of drainage.

The following matter explains more fully the action of the controller under excessive pressure and unnatural conditions that may never exist but in order for a controlling device of this character to be practicable it has to be devised so as to overcome such conditions and not be rendered inoperative or be the cause of damaging the boiler or other parts of the heating system due to its failure to operate properly under such conditions.

As the steam condenses in the inner receptacle 18 the pressure therein is slightly reduced and the water in top casting 22 will descend slightly, say perhaps one-half an inch. This amount of water in the inner receptacle raises the float enough to loosen the check 21. The check 20 is still held to its seat in the manner above stated and by loosening the check 21 slightly leakage between the checks is permitted to offset the condensation of steam in the inner receptacle. This maintains constant pressure that will carry the maximum weight that the regulator is adjusted to carry and will always keep the dampers closed under excessive pressure. This condition is indicated in Fig. 5.

In this case the check 20 is held to its seat by the excessive boiler pressure below in the supply pipe 9. This of course is greater than the pressure in the casing 37 because only a. slight leakage is allowed at this time to pass into the casing 37 past the check 21 and the steam in the inner receptacle coming in contact with the water below and being surrounded by water in the outer receptacle is continually condensing.

It is to be noted that due to the conical shape of the bottom 29 and the large displacement of the float, water which is held in the top casting} 22 will not have to fall back much to cause a consid rable rise in the level of the water. in the inner receptacle 1,8 for the purpose of positively operating the float and opening the checks. is the space between the outer and inner receptacles is very narrow and not much water is required to fill it, the checks are usually maintained in the position shown in Fig. 4.

In this way a checking device is provided that allows for slow leakage of steam into the inside receptacle. so as not to allow a greater pressure in the regulator than the water seal will stand. It the water seal in the regulator is cold or if the regulator s located in position to be subject to cold air some conditions of pressure would require that the checks be in the position shown in Fig. 5 so as to shut ofl the steam against excessive pressure. In that case much more steam is being condensed in the regulator and the checking device has to allow more steam to leak through the checks in the inside receptacle than would be the case if the water in the regulator were hot, or if the device were located in a very warm place.

In View of what has been said, it is obvious that I have provided an arrangement that will not allow the water used for sealing it to be blown out so that there is no danger of damage to the boiler and building from this cause. It is to be noted also that the regulator has a separate device, namely the float and its connections, for closing oil the steam supply so that the water seal is subjectonly to such pressure as may be desired. for operating the regulator. This float is entirely independent of the floating receptacle 18 that operates the damper legvers so that in case of any failure of the lat ter to work the checking device is still capable of checking the supply of steam to the controller so the water will not be blown out. In this way nothing can prevent the checking device from operating. It entirely protected within the inside receptacle and depends entirely upon the water level and not on the operation of the inner floating receptacle 18. There is nothing that careless workmen can do in connecting the regulator that will prevent the checking valve from working because the parts are so arranged that whenever steam pressure enters the inner receptacle 18 the checking device must work even if the receptacle 18 should fail to operate. In this way the trouble is obviated that has usually been encountered in the use of regulators that depend upon floats or receptacles that operate the dampers and checking device by rising to a predetermined height before the check can seat. In those cases any catching of the chains or inaccurate setting of the parts might prevent the check from working and allow the excessive steam pressure to blow out the water seal.

The water-tight top 252, is an important feature because it has no opening below the narrow slot through which the 'lever 15 p asses and has a relatively large capacity to receive any flow of water from between. the two receptacles 17 and 18. Therefore even if anything did happen to prevent the effective operation of the check very little water could be forced out of the lever slot and under no conditions could water so collect in this top and so much pressure be generated as to act on the inside receptacle and prevent its having its maximum lifting power. This I consider an important ad'- vantage over those regulators that have open tops or loosely covered ones, for with them under excessive pressure if anything prevented the check from working the steam would be discharged from the boiler through the regulator and cause damage. In this case the steam cannot possibly be discharged even if the water seal should entirely evaporate on account of being left a long time for in that case the operating float would be lowered and the check positively closed. It is to be noted that in order to check the flow of steam from the boiler into this controller it is not necessary that the inside receptacle 18 should move from its lowest position, so there is no danger of trouble when starting up the furnace the first time in the fall or using it for' burning rubbish in the summer. The water line and position of the parts in Fig. 3 indicate conditions that would obtain in case the chains gotcaught over their pulleys or the levers should stick so as to cause water to rise in the top casting to the level shown, and it will be ob served that the regulator in that casehas its maximum working power and no steam can enter the regulator that would destroy the water seal.

In order to obtain the maximum working power of the regulator, water is forced into the top casting 22 by being lowered in the inside receptacle so that the bottom of the same is just sealed as shown in Fig. 3. This condition is secured simply by sufiiciently weighting the regulator, and this weight can be changed or adjusted to any desired degree so as to carry any desired pressure in the regulator.

In the form shown in Fig. 8 the outer casing 17 is mounted on the steam supply pipe 9 on the furnace itself. The float 19 is made of pressed metal in two parts. The lever l2 is connected directly to the damper an arm l0 and to the cold air draft by a link 11. This is; used chiefly for small buildings such as detached dwelling houses.

The object of the construction in Fig. 7 is to eliminate noise from the controller when connected directly to steam-space of a small boiler, such as is used for heating a residence. Most small boilers have a pufi'y steam gen eration; that is, steam leaves the boiler in gusts. This unsteady flow of steam from a small boiler would cause the inner receptacle to rattle and be noisy. This noise would continue as long as steam pressure'was not enough to lift the inner receptacle from the bottom of the outer receptacle. To overcome this, a small pipe 92 extends upwards inside the steam supply pipe 90, and is held in place by being screwed into the spider or cross casting 28 that is fastened to the pipe connection 90 from the boiler and the supply pipe to the controller.

The small pipe 92 is made of brass prefer ably and has its upper end flattened so as to reduce the flow of steam still more. It will be noticed that two small holes 93 are drilled alongside of the pipe 92, these holes allow for water to escape without hindering the flow of steam to the controller- The small brass pipe 92 allows water to collect around pressure so the water can flow out of thesupply pipe through the small holes and back to the boiler against the low steam pressure. The steam supply pipe also answers as a water overflow. tor condensed steam. The controller in working condition has water standing to the overflow point at all times and if the controller lever should be moved so as to disturb the inner receptacle quantity of water would be discharged down the supply pipe. This water would water-log theco ntroller supply pipe it the steam supply pipe was reduced in any other way than shown in Fig. 7, to allow the water to build up in the pipe to overcome the steam pressure and fiow back to the boiler. Steam condenses suddenly in the controller if the water was allowed to hinder the flow of steam into the controller though the quantity required is small. A partial vacuum would be formed in the controller allowing the boiler dampers to be opened and would cause damage to the boiler it some one was not handy to attend to it.

Although I have illustrated and described only two forms of the invention and specified materials and features of construction, I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art andthat other materials can be used without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I do claim is 1. In a device for controlling a source of steam supply, the combination of a water sealed receptacle, and means connected therewith for controlling the operation of a source of steam supply, with a float operating independently of said receptacle and means operated by the float for controlling the admission of steam from said source of supply int contact with said receptacle.

2. In a device for controlling a source of steam supply, the combination of a water sealed receptacle, and means connected therewith for controlling the operation of a source of steam supply, with a float operating independently of said receptacle and enclosed therein and means operated by the float for controlling the admision of steam-from said source into said receptacle.

3. In a device for controlling a source of steam supply, the combination of a water sealed receptacle connected with a source of steam supply to be regulated, a lever connected therewith, means connected with the lever for controlling said source to increase the supply of steam to the receptacle when said receptacle rises, and means whereby as the level of water in the inner receptacle falls the entrance of steam from said source will be checked independently of the position of the receptacle.

4. In a device :tor controlling a source of steam supply, the combination oi a water sealed receptacle, means for connecting its interior with s iean'i source to be regulated, a lever connected with said receptacle, means connected with the lever for increasing the supply of steam therein when said receptacle rises, means whereby as the level of water in the receptacle falls the entrance of steam will be checked, and means for causing the last named means to operate entirely independently of the water sealed re ceptacle.

l'n a device for controlling a'source of steam supply,.the combination of two receptacles, one Iithin the other and one vertically movable, said receptacles having a liquid seal between them, a pipe for introducing steam. from the source of steam to be r gulated into contact with the movable rereceptacle for controlling the entrance steam from said source through said pipe, and means independent of said movable receptacle for controlling the entrance of steam into contact with the movable receptacle and for, under normal pressure, permitting the free passage of steam into the space above the liquid seal, and, under excessive pressure, replacing the pressure lost in the device by condensation.

6. In a controll r for a boiler furnace, the combination of two receptacles, one within the other and one vertically movable, said receptacles having a liquid seal between them, means for introducing steam from the steam space of the boiler of the furnace to be regulated into contact with the movable receptacle for the purpose of moving it, means connected with said movable receptacle for controlling the furnace, and au tomatic means independent of said movable receptacle for controlling the entrance of steam into contact therewith, checking the entrance of steam into the controller under excessive pressure on the supply source so that no greater pressure accumulates in the movable receptacle then the liquid seal will permit, and normally permitting the free passage of steam to replace the pressure lost in the device by condensation, whereby the movable receptacle will remain substantially in position to hold the dampers of the furnace closed, and normally permitting free passage of steam to the space above the water seal in the movable receptacle, and tree passage 'of overflow water to the supply source.

'2. In a device for controlling a source of steam supply, the combination of two receptacles, one within the other and one vertically movable, said receptacles having a liquid seal between them, means for introducing steam from the steam space of the boiler of the furnace to be regulated into Comet with the riievable re'epta'cl fer rri'bvii'fg it, saiid device'having a p'b'rtthrough which steiu'ri is admitted, a valve fdr said port, means for moving; the valve eppositely t the movement of the level of water in the inner redeptacle, and at second valve construkzted mid arranged to close said port but adapted to admit steaiii' thereby at all times Whefi the cbn'trbller contains liqui'd S651 and is iii operation 8 In a; device for controlling a soure of stemm' suppl the eombination' of a water sealed controller, having at port for introd'li'ein' steam from the steam sgztce of the boiler'of the mime to be regulated into the coritrolle'r, a freely movable valve for said port means whereby said valve is held by the steam pressure frmh the boiler in position to close said port on the outer surface.

said Valve havill'g a passage therethrough, a

rod loosely passing through 7 said passage so as to admit steam around the rod through the passage, a' valve fixedbn the end of Said 9; In 'a' devise fi" OIitbHihg & some Oi: Stem 'su 'jply, the (ibr'nhi iittidri of two T- ceptucles one ithir'i the other and due vertically mqt'iihle; sa'id,recepmc1s he virig' a liquid seal betweefi them, meme foi iritiid due-111g steaiii i'i-rorn the steam .01? the boiler 0f the furnace fQ b'e rg'ula't'ed iiitq Contact with theiii'ovable re aeptacl''; Ifiaii's' cemiected with "said r'ri'dvable receptacle id!" wntmi'iirig the furnace, menu's fer bntrdh ling the entrance Of steam iiit ci iiftact With the movable rece ita'cle, and substantiall closed means for e eiving the overflow tram the "Waiter seal and holdiligf it in position to return it into the Space between the receptacles. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunt'd aflixed my signature.

NELSON I 3. JOHNSON. 

